CD Review: VTG 'Letting Go' Not to Be Missed

Oct 20, 2010
Melissa Kucirek

VTG - Photo Courtesy of 3AM Devices Records

San Francisco's VTG channels Nine Inch Nails for the unique six track EP "Love Is Letting Go." Listeners will find brilliance.

It is apparent from the mysterious sounds and salacious undertones that Lawrence Stone, aka VTG, has found balance and influence from Trent Reznor's Nine Inch Nails. For listeners not familiar with, or not fond of the darker NIN sound, then VTG's EP Love Is Letting Go (3AM Devices Records) is one opportunity not to be missed. VTG's six tracks deliver strong punk, electronica, dance and eclectic industrial songs all capable of standing on their own.

With each track, the listener has this sense of emotion - not happy nor sad, just the feeling of movement. It is as if industrial rock borrowed from Moby and kidnapped INXS. Yes, clear as mud for the listener. What this listener found is that Stone's voice is equally enthralling as it is disturbing. It is sexy without being hedonistic. It is dance music without frill, but rather blood traveling through the body.

Meant for Anyone Who's Gone Through Embroiled Emotion

According to the official VTG biography, the songs were created and meant for "anyone who's ever had to say adios to a significant other after years of embroiled emotion." Just as NIN tears at the very bone marrow of love, VTG gathers evidence for heightened sounds and jarring electronic quips in the murdering of his heart. That is the voice from which the sounds are derived.

With song titles like "Goodbye" " She Kills Me," " Infection," "Clean Me Out," he is not exactly setting the stage for Hallmark Gold Crown Awards presents Songs to Love By. Again, it is not that the sounds sound so angry the listeners want to smash and bleed out, rather the listener sits along for the controlled ride. Each note is perfected and calculated to a insightful purpose. That is what is most enjoyable about VTG.

In "I Lie Pretty," the EP's most danceable tune, it never feels shameful or sexually raw. It is dark, yes, but the orchestration and construction of the song is presented in such a way that the listener feels tricked into dancing. It is more rock than electronica; it is more industrial than computerized. It is brilliant.

Repetitive Lyrics

Be sure to stick around for the last track, "Clean Me Out." The haunting intro is laced with a numbing piano and whispering pain. Stone's voice is so clear and without vain. His talent and command for multi-instruments shoves its way to the forefront. The words can get a bit repetitive on this song, but Stone's control supersedes. This song will linger with the listener for days.

Solid A Review

Fans of Nine Inch Nails, Garbage, H Is Orange, Depeche Mode will want to listen to VTG's Love Is Letting Go. Bad news for parents and listeners offended by coarse language. It is never an issue while listening (for this writer, anyway) but it does come up sparingly. Good news for listeners that VTG had such a cathartic experience after being 'done wrong.' Whomever the ex was - the listeners should say 'thank you." This stuff is great. Overall review for this one is a solid A.